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28 February 2010

Look at every name on that record on your ancestor. Why are those other names on the document? Officials and the like might not be huge clues, but they could be. And the other names might be worth investigating.

Post a query to the appropriate message board at boards.ancestry.com or lists.rootsweb.com and inquire about records access and prices

Never pay for immediate, overnight, or any speedy service.

Considering hiring a local professional if you need a large number and can't get them via mail.

This is mean to be general guidance only, but avoid paying exorbitant fees for "extra" services if at all possible. This is why if you are unfamiliar, post to various mailing lists and message boards and wait for an answer.

25 February 2010

I know someone told me that. I am not dreaming it. I had already known the "Humke boy was related," but the dating (or potential dating) was news to me. I remembered the tidbit while doing something completely unrelated. The problem is that I cannot for the life of me remember who told me. I will write it down now and have to use myself as the source, even though I have no first hand knowledge of it myself.

It is even more frustrating because I was told this little nugget years after I had started genealogy and knew the importance of writing things down as soon as possible.

24 February 2010

Is a word underlined on that deed you copied at the courthouse? Remember underlining was often the clerk's way of indicating that the underlined item looked odd and incorrect, but that's what the document actually said. The clerk's job was to transcribe, not to fix.

23 February 2010

Interpreting documents is never easy. If you have a complicated document or record, consider having more than one person interpret it. Different people can easily interpret the same thing in slightly different ways and those differences can make all the difference.

And make certain you know something of the background of who gives you advice. Not everyone's skill levels are the same and a response from an anonymous poster on an email list or a message board may not be all that reliable.

21 February 2010

Keep in mind that there might be town or city records, county records, state records, and federal records of your ancestor.

Any could give you the break you need. Never assume that state or federal records are not going to help you on your ancestor. Military records and pensions are often state or federal records and these can be especially informative. Military veterans or their spouses often applied for benefits as they aged and the restrictions were loosened up.

19 February 2010

Sometimes it is easy to criticize those who insist on a "source for every fact." However, having started to do this on a few of my lines, I have learned one thing. It has forced me to correct many things I have either transcribed or remembered incorrectly.

It may be heresy to say this, but the world won't end if your citations are not perfect. However, they should lead you or someone else back to the original.

Going back and getting the actual information right may even cause you to break down those brick walls that were accidentally created by the researcher themself. Of course, this never happens to me---just other people!

16 February 2010

Genealogy tip of the Day readers know that sometimes there are gaps in the tips (I'm working to fix them).

However, the gaps make an excellent point. When viewing records that are filed chronologically pay attention to filing dates, dates of record, etc. Are there gaps? If so, it could indicate missing or misfiled records?

Do not JUST look for NAMES and only names. Context is everything---in more ways than one.

15 February 2010

If you have a newspaper clipping that is undated and unsourced, flip it over. Anything can be a potential clue as to location or date, even classified ads.

One obit I found in a set of clippings had a date, but no name of the newspaper. Flipping it over I found the classified ads. The phone numbers and street names told me it was from a nearby town of 40,000 and not one of the small towns near where the relative actually died.

13 February 2010

A warrantee is someone to whom a warrant for land has been issued. The warrant could have been issued for military service, some other service, or outright purchase. Just because someone got a warrant does not mean they actually were the person who settled the land. That person was the patentee.

10 February 2010

On an old mortgage, the mortgagee is the person who is loaning the money. It might not always be a bank, it might be a family member, neighbor, etc. And could always be a clue as to a potential associate of your ancestor.

08 February 2010

Are you using Civil War pension papers that cousin Ken got fifteen or twenty years ago? Did he get the complete set or just the "genealogically relevant" ones? The complete set may contain information not shown in the "relevant" pages.

And if you've never heard of the "complete" set and didn't know it existed, it's time to do a little searching.

Michael's Blogs

Using Tip of The Day

Casefile Clues

My weekly how-to newsletter focusing on records, analysis, and methodology. Not just copied and pasted how-to material. Real stories on real research of real ancestors.

Welcome!

Every day a fresh, short idea to get your genealogy research started. Tips are archived here and also appear on Facebook. Scroll down for ways to receive the tips and to interact with other tip readers.

Tips are usually generated while I'm doing my own research--often for my weekly how-to genealogy newsletter, Casefile Clues. Tips are down-to-earth and realistic. I'm very much engaged in active genealogy research--not just writing about it. You won't find copied and pasted stuff here--tips are made up fresh and on the fly. Once in a while we may have a similar tip from a year or so ago, but they aren't recycled.

Tips are free and suggestions are welcomed.

Enjoy!

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